McGrath has struggled with injury in recent years but will be remembered for playing his part in Donegal’s second All-Ireland triumph in 2012.

The corner-back was an All-Star nominee in Donegal’s All-Ireland winning year after several top performances helped play a part in his side’s journey to the summit of Gaelic football.

The Ardara man was in Croke Park in September once again in 2014 as Jim McGuinness brought the county to their second All-Ireland final in three years.

However, that day was not to be as Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s Kerry bridged a five-year gap to earn their 37th Sam Maguire.

“To have played for Donegal just once, I never would have imagined that as a wee fella growing up,” McGrath told the Donegal News.

“But to have had 12 years and some medals to go along with it, it’s been amazing.

“The friends made and just the honour of wearing my county’s colours, it’s the stuff of dreams.”

McGrath was among the many players that made the leap from under-21 to senior football with ease for Donegal after finishing second in the U21 All-Ireland Championship.

John Joe Doherty gave the defender his senior debut for the county in an Ulster Senior Football Championship loss to Down in 2010 but McGuinness, who managed the U21s at that time, came in for 2011 and took the team to new heights.

Three Ulster titles followed under McGuinness, on top of the All-Ireland triumph but Donegal regressed under Rory Gallagher, who succeeded the All-Ireland winning coach and former All-Irelan winning player.

McGrath remained a mainstay in the side throughout Gallagher’s reign and in the early period of current boss Declan Bonner’s second term with the county.

He picked up his fourth and fifth Ulster titles under Bonner in 2018 and 2019, becoming a centurion for the county in the latter season, before an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Mayo in the All-Ireland Super 8s began the end of his career.

His club Ardara praised him on social media after announcing his retirement from the inter-county scene on Monday morning: “Paddy finally bows out from County football after a fantastic career. Donegal’s loss is Ardara’s gain and we look forward to seeing him for many more years in our own green and gold jersey inspiring the next generation of Ardara footballers.

“What a career @mcgrath_2..!”

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The first-time county champions were held at bay by Rory Kavanagh’s defensively sound Donegal outfit for the majority of the game but a mistake at the back was what brought them down, as Glen forward Danny Tallon kicked an easy free to win it in the dying moments.

Eunan’s were the better side for most of the game in what was initially a dour affair but a late penalty save from Shaun Patton and the even later winning free added excitement to the first game of this year’s Ulster Championship.

Watty Graham’s had the lion’s share of the possession throughout the game but Eunan’s goal after the first water break led to a period where both sides traded blows.

Tallon put the ball over the bar twice in the highest-scoring period of the game after the sole goal, coming close to replying to the Donegal side with a goal of his own.

However, the second half followed the same pattern of failing to excite as Eunan’s maintained their lead of two points until late.

Glen half-back Ciaran McFaul reduced the lead to one and the side went on the attack soon after in search of another score.

The uniform defence of the Donegal champions was burst open and Stevie O’Hara was one-on-one with Donegal number one Patton before being brought down.

Patton saved the resulting penalty but the defence was rattled and the Derry champions took advantage of this.

Michael Warnock knocked over the equaliser after being allowed a free shot by the nervous Eunan’s backline and a back pass after the following kick out allowed Danny Tallon to do what he does best, sealing the first-ever win for his club in the Ulster Senior Football Championship.

Tallon and co. will now progress to face Monaghan champions Scotstown in the quarter-final in two weeks time.

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The match will be played the home ground of Eunan’s, O’Donnell Park in Letterkenny.

This will be the third year in a row that the two sides will play each other in the final stage of the county championship.

Setanta are looking to continue their period of dominance in Donegal and stamp out the threat Of Eunan’s once again.

The challengers to their crown are hoping that it will be third time lucky as they aim to win their first Donegal senior title since 1972.

The pair earned the right to another rematch after wins over Burt and Buncrana respectively.

Eunan’s beat the record-holders by five points to progress to the final stage to the despair of Burt’s players and staff.

Burt have not reached the final since 2018 and are the last side to beat Setanta in the final, winning their 39th title by two goals.

Setanta brushed aside Buncrana, who could not match their intensity and tempo as they fell to a 20-point loss in Letterkenny.

The defending champions have won all six of their games in this year’s county hurling championship and are yet to see a side they face stay within ten points of them.

The Killygordon club have also only conceded 72 points after six games – an average of 12 points conceded per game.

Eunan’s are another high-scoring side but their defence allowed over 100 points in the round-robin games.

They will need to show that they have improved that facet of their game enough to stop Setanta’s attack from putting a cricket score past them.

Before the senior final, Aodh Ruadh Ballyshannon and Dungloe will contest the Michael Murphy Sports Donegal junior hurling championship.

Fixtures

Michael Murphy Sports Senior and Junior Hurling Finals

Saturday, Oct 30^th, Páirc Uí Dhomhnaill, Aodh Ruadh v An Clochán Liath, 13:30, James Callaghan

Saturday Oct 30^th, Páirc Uí Dhomhnaill, Naomh Ádhamhnáin v Setanta, 15:30, Aidan McAleer.

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The game is scheduled to be played at 1:45 pm and will be shown on GAA Beo as the first of a double-header, with coverage starting at 1:30 pm.

The Limerick Senior Hurling Championship will be shown after the match-up between Naomh Conaill and Kilcar.

Both sides have progressed to the final four of the 2021 instalment of the Senior A Football Championship after wins over Gaoth Dobhair and Sean Mac Cumhaill respectively.

Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí’s first-half goal was enough to see Naomh Conaill past their opponents on Sunday.

Kilcar, on the other hand, put on a dominant display to reach the semi-finals, thrashing Sean Mac Cumhaill by 17 points and holding them to only two.

The pair played the 2020 final earlier this year in August but a replay was ordered after it was found that winners Naomh Conaill had used an extra substitute in extra-time on their way to a county championship win via penalties, following a Kilcar appeal about the matter.

Rule 2.4(ii) of the GAA’s official guide says that only three substitutes can be used in extra-time – Kilcar claimed that their opponents used four in this period and Donegal GAA’s Competitions Controls Committee found this to be true.

In correspondence to the clubs, Donegal explained the decision-making process: “Naomh Conaill CLG made four substitutions in the course of the extra time played and as a result committed a breach of Rule 2.3(ii) Rules of Specification – The Players – Official Guide 2021 Part 2.

“That the breach of the said Rule 2.3(ii) Rules of Specification – The Players – Official Guide 2021 Part 2 by Naomh Conaill CLG was an Infraction rendering Naomh Conaill CLG liable to the penalties set out in Rule 6.44(b)(ii) Official Guide 2021 Part 1, including but not limited to the award of the game to the Objector.”

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Seven of the eight final round league fixtures in this year’s Donegal SFC take place on Saturday, October 9 at 3 pm.

Each of these seven games have a bearing on which clubs progress to the knock-out phases of the championship and which go through to the relegation semi-finals.

On Sunday, Kilcar will take on Gaoth Dobhair in Towney with both teams already guaranteed quarter-final berths.

When Is The Draw?

The draw for the quarterfinals will take place in Áras Aodh Ruadh, Father Tierney Park, Ballyshannon at approximately 5:45 pm on Saturday following the conclusion of the seven matches.

It will be live on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and it is also expected to be streamed on the official Donegal Facebook page.

The draw will be random but with a key difference between the two sets of quarter-finals.

In the championship knock-out phases, repeat fixtures are excluded – thus, for example, Kilcar cannot meet Gaoth Dobhair.

This restriction will not be in force for the relegation play-offs and repeat fixtures can be played.

The draw for the semi-finals of the Championship – Senior, Senior Reserve, Intermediate and Intermediate Reserve will also take place.

Fixtures

Michael Murphy Sports Senior A Football Championship – Round 4

Sat, 9 Oct, Moyle Park Milford v St Nauls 15:00, Enda McFeely

Sat, 9 Oct, The Bridge, St Michaels v Na Cealla Beaga 15:00, Connie Doherty

Sat, 9 Oct, The Burn Road, Termon v Sean MacCumhaill, 15:00. Jimmy White

Sat, 9 Oct, Gaelic Park, Realt na Mara v Naomh Ádhamhnáin, 15:00, Shane Toolan

Sat, 9 Oct, Páirc Taobhoige, Gleann Fhinne v Four Masters, 15:00, Val Murray

Sat, 9 Oct, Páirc Naomh Columba, Gleann tSúilí v Naomh Conaill 15:00, James Connors

Sat, 9 Oct, Fr Tierney Park, Aodh Ruadh v Ard an Ratha 15:00, Shaun McLaughlin

Sun,10 Oct, Páirc Tamhnaigh, Cill Chartha v Gaoth Dobhair 15:00, Jimmy White

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The draw will see sides from Pool B play host to sides in Pool A with the provision that there will be no repeat fixtures from rounds 1-3.

All eight round four games are set to take place on the weekend of October 9 with five quarter-final spots left to grab.

Three sides have already secured their spots in the knockout stages of the competition – Gweedore and 2020 county finalists Kilcar and Naomh Conaill.

St Eunan’s, Glenswilly, St Naul’s, St Michael’s and Aodh Ruadh Ballyshannon currently occupy the final five places.

The first four sides are all on four points while the Ballyshannon club sit on three heading into this weekend’s action.

Six other clubs are in with a chance of securing a spot but Termon and Four Masters will see their championships come to an end after the conclusion of round four.

The biggest fixture in the draw sees Gweedore go up against Kilcar in a top-of-the-table clash.

Both sides have won their first three games and the match will be an early indicator of who is best equipped to go all the way this year.

It holds significance as the two sides are now not able to meet each other in the quarter-finals as no repeat fixtures are permitted.

Kilcar have had the best defence in the championship so far, allowing only 21 points across three games – an average of seven per game.

Their 2.71 points difference is also the best in the competition – Gweedore are the only other side with a points difference above two.

Other ties in the draw see Glenswilly play host to Naomh Conaill and Aodh Ruadh face Ardara in their quests to secure a spot in the knockout stages.

Donegal Senior Football Championship Round 4 Draw

Kilcar v Gweedore

Aodh Ruadh v Ardara

Realt na Mara v St Eunan’s

Termon v Sean Mac Cumhaill

Glenswilly v Naomh Conaill

St Michael’s v Na Cealla Beaga

Glenfin v Four Masters

Milford v St Nauls

The post Donegal GAA Senior Football Championship Round 4 Draw appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The defending SSE Airtricity League Champions were knocked out by Bohemians in the second round of the FAI Cup on Sunday.

The two sides were reduced to 10 men each after a scuffle between Bohs forward Georgie Kelly and Rovers captain Ronan Finn led to both players receiving their marching orders – Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley does not agree with Finn’s dismissal but says his side “have to accept it.”

Bradley reflected on the game and noted that he felt that it was a match of poor quality throughout.

The post Shamrock Rovers Looking To Bounce Back Against Finn Harps appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Rule 2.4(ii) of the GAA’s official guide says that only three substitutes can be used in extra-time – Kilcar is claiming that their opponents used four in this period.

Naomh Conaill retained their county championship crown after a 4-2 penalty shootout victory against Kilcar.

Kilcar’s appeal was lodged with the Donegal GAA’s Competitions Controls Committee (CCC) on Tuesday evening.

The Donegal Competitions’ Controls Committee (CCC) has confirmed it has been in communication with the 2020 Donegal SFC runners-up.

The CCC will meet in due course to discuss the objection and will then notify the Naomh Conaill club, who will, in turn, have three days to reply.

If the outcome of the appeal is in favour of Kilcar, the game could either be awarded to Kilcar or replayed, or Naomh Conaill could be fined for their actions.

The game in Ballybofey on Saturday went to penalties after two ten-minute periods of extra-time could not separate the sides.

Ciaran Thompson was the hero on the night for the victors as he slotted home the winning penalty following a strong individual performance.

The Donegal forward carried the club on the attacking end with a 1-5 performance, including a first-half penalty.

The 26-year-old scored all of his team’s points in the first half as the sides went in level at the break at 0-6 to 1-3.

His side went on to win the tie and make him one of the few players to win the Dr Maguire Cup two times in a row.

Paddy McBrearty kept Kilcar in the game when their opponents threatened to pull away and helped the side to a penalty shoot-out with the defending champions.

Ryan and Mark McHugh missed their penalties and gave Thompson the golden opportunity, which he converted.

However, the result could come undone if the appeal is successful.

The post Kilcar Appeal 2020 Donegal SFC Final appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Both sides are looking for their first provincial crown at minor level in several years after wins from Monaghan and Derry in recent years.

Tyrone lead the way on the Ulster Minor roll of honour with 23 Fr Murray Cup’s to their name and will look to add another for the first time since 2012.

Donegal sit on a tally of eight Ulster minor titles in total and have been crowned champions twice in 2014 and 2016 since Tyrone’s last victory.

The counties met in the 2020 Minor Quarter Final which took place in December and saw Tyrone come out on top 0-8 to 0-7 in a tight battle in Ballybofey.

Five players who played in that fixture will take to the field for the minor sides once again on Friday night.

Michael Rafferty, Callan Kelly, Ruairi McHugh and Cormac Devlin represent Tyrone again, while Luke McGlynn remains for Donegal.

Tyrone have made it look easy on their way to Brewster Park after impressive wins over Down and Fermanagh.

Gerard Donnelly’s side scored 9-37 while only conceding 1-15 in their two previous games and will enter Brewster Park as a well-oiled machine.

Captain Cormac Devlin has led the attack in both games with 0-13 to his name including six frees.

Ronan Cassidy had a magnificent 2-3 performance against the Ernesiders in the semi-final while Gavin Potter and Eoin McElholm round out a strong attacking unit.

Half-back Shea O’Hare adds an extra attacking threat with his runs from deep and Ruairi McHugh has been a huge presence in midfield.

Donegal have had to play an extra game on the way to the final – a preliminary round victory over Antrim – and have had closer games.

Low-scoring battles against Monaghan and Armagh have seen the side into the Ulster minor final after a one-sided victory against Antrim.

McGlynn, captain and corner forward, has been their main threat in the final third with the responsibility of placed balls being his.

Donegal have had a good spread of points but there has been no clear standout in attack so far this season.

Sean Ward and Conor Reid provide a strong and dynamic midfield foundation for the side and the defence has held all opponents to no more than ten points each.

Tyrone’s blitzkrieg will go head-to-head against the hardworking Donegal side coached by Luke Barrett.

The winner will progress to the All-Ireland semi-finals where they will play Cork on Saturday, August 21st.

Lineups

Donegal: Aaron Cullen; Donal Gallagher, Cormac Gallagher, Karl Magee; Sean Martin, Ethan Friel, Oisin Caulfield; Sean Ward, Conor Reid; Cathal McGeever, Kevin McCormack, Conor McGinty; Daniel Marley, Paddy McElwee, Luke McGlynn C.

Subs: Damien McGowan, Eoghan Kelly, James Doherty, Cormac McColgan, Michael Callaghan, Karl Joseph Molloy, Gary Kelly, Oisin Harkin, Ryan Barrett

Tyrone: Niall Robinson; Michael Rafferty, Ronan Fox, Callan Kelly; Hugh J Cunningham, Shea O’Hare, Matthew Mallon; Ronan Donnelly, Ruairi McHugh; Ronan Strain, Cormac Devlin C, Gavin Potter; Ronan Cassidy, Gavin McCann, Eoin McElholm.

Subs: Conor McAneney, Conan Devlin, Barry McMenamin, Brian Hampsey, Conor Owens, Noah Grimes, Caolan O’Hagan, Fiachra Donnelly, Odhran Bolly.

Where To Watch

Donegal and Tyrone’s Ulster minor final clash will be streamed live on TG4 Sport’s Youtube Channel. Throw-in is at 7:30 pm.

The post Donegal v Tyrone Ulster MFC Final – Preview, Lineups, Where To Watch appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE SCORES ON DONEGAL v DOWN

In the preliminary round of the provincial competition, the two sides face-off with the winner facing National Football League Division Three winners Derry in the quarter-finals.

The game will be available to watch on RTÉ One’s ‘The Sunday Game’ with coverage starting at 12:55 pm.

After an abysmal season, Down, relegated to Division Three, will want to see improvements in their game.

Similarly, Donegal needs to make a statement in Ulster after unconvincing performances in the league saw them squeeze into the Division One semi-finals, where they looked a level below a Dublin that has not hit top form yet this season.

Donegal is the stronger of the two sides on paper, boasting a powerful attack that includes a blend of established figures and up-and-coming talents coming towards their prime years.

They have entered a new era of attacking football, a far cry from the 2012 side which championed a hard-working defensive style.

Donegal manager Declan Bonner has found a way to include all his attacking talents into one side and has reaped the rewards on that side of play.

Michael Murphy and Paddy McBrearty still star for the 2012 All-Ireland winners in the forward lines with the pair proving that age is just a number.

Jamie Brennan, Ciaran Thompson and Oisin Gallen look more and more assured alongside the veteran duo as their experience grows.

Niall O’Donnell and the reliable Michael Langan also provide attacking support for the side.

Ryan McHugh is as dangerous as ever going forward from his wing-back role.

Peadar Mogan has also impressed on the opposite flank.

The side’s attack was able to function in the absence of Michael Murphy after he went down four minutes into the Monaghan game.

With him back, they can only get better.

The sheer attacking power will be sure to terrorise a Down defence that has shipped 78 points in its four games in 2021 and looked frail throughout them.

Goalkeeper Rory Burns must be mentioned as he has been a bright spark in an otherwise poor defence for the Mournemen.

But if a side concedes 78 points in Division Two, albeit 27 to All-Ireland finalists Mayo, they will have a rough 70 minutes against a side that scored 77 against the best sides in the country.

James Horan’s Mayo is a good example of a young, pacey attacking side that tore up the Down backline and a similar result will be expected against Donegal.

Down boss Paddy Tally will have his work cut out for him to fix their defensive issues before his side faces Bonner’s Blitzkreig.

However, Bonner’s gung-ho approach leaves Donegal susceptible at the back as Ulster rivals Monaghan and Armagh have already showcased.

A slow full-back line was exposed but the power of Donegal’s attack pulled the side back into the games.

The era of the blanket defence has created a generation of defenders who are not ready to make that step up for Donegal.

Down will look to take advantage of this as they attempt to pull off the upset on Sunday afternoon.

Barry O’Hagan will be an important figure high up the pitch for the Mourne County.

His scores against Laois kept them in Division Two.

Cory Quinn will be another option for Down when an attack is on for the side.

Barry’s brother and Down captain Darren O’Hagan will be busy in the middle of the park.

However, Down will rely on Rory Burns to keep Donegal’s blistering attack at bay but, unlike Laois and Westmeath, it may be too much of an ask for the Castlewallan man.

Team News

Down

R Burns, P Fegan, G McGovern, G Collins, P Laverty, D O’Hagan, D Guinness, C Mooney, R McEvoy, L Kerr, C Doherty, B O’Hagan, C McCrickard, L Middleton, C Quinn

Donegal

S Patton, B McCole, N McGee, S McMenamin, R McHugh, O McFadden Ferry, E Ban Gallagher, H McFadden, C McGonagle, C Thompson, N O’Donnell, M Langan, P McBrearty, M Murphy, P Mogan

Predicted Winner: Donegal by 10

Betting

Down 13/2

Draw 14/1

Donegal 1/10

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